When pains torment and care* annoy, Thou only canst their force abate,

And gild the gloom which lhades this mortal state. Though oft thy joys are falfe and vain, Though anxious doubts attend thy train. Though difappointment mock thy care, And point the way to fell defpair,

Yet still my fecret foul shall own thy pow'r,

In forrow's bitterest pang, in pleafure's gayest hour. For from the date of Reafon's birth

That wond'rous power was given, To foften every grief on earth, To raife the foul from thoughtlefs mirth, And wing its slight to heav'n.

Nor pain nor pleafure can its force destroy,

la every varied fcene it points to future joy.

II.

Fancy, wave thy airy pinions,

Bid the foft ideas rife, Spread o'er all thy wide dominions

Vernal fweets and cloudlefs fkies. And lo! on yonder verdant plain,

A lovely youthful Train appear, Their gentle hearts have felt no pain.

Their guiltlefs bofoms know no fear: In each gay fcene fomn new delight Ihey simd. Yet fancy gayer profpects still behind. Where are the foft delusions fled?

Must Wifdom teach the soul to mourn f

Return, ye days of ignorance, return! Before my eyes your fairy visions fpread! Atas! thofe fairy visions charm no more, The pleasing dream of youth is o'er; Far other thoughts must now the foul employ, It glows with other hopes, it pants for other joy,

Say, does not every pleafure wait thee now, That e'er could charm the ear, or court the e\'e? In vain does Nature lavilh all her store;

The confcious fpirit still afpires,

Still purfues fome new desires, And, every with obtain'd, it sighs and pants for more*

IV.

Are thefe, O Hope! the glories of thy reign?

The airy dreams of fancy and of youth! Must all thy boasted pleafures lead to pain;

Thy }oys all vanilh at the light of truth? Mast wretched man, led by a meteor sire,

To distant blessmgs still afpire;

Still with ardour strive to gain

Joys he oft purfues in vain, Joys which quickly must expire; And when at length the fatal hour is come, And death prepares the irrevocable doom, Mourn all his darling hopes at once destroyM, And sigh to leave that blifs he ne'er enjoy'd?